Obsession at The Asylum

Obsession at the Asylum brings together Amelia’s research of the West Ridings Pauper Lunatic Asylum as well as her notorious repetitive performances. Aiming to intrigue and educate the local audience, Amelia writes of Wakefield’s history of providing one of the first mental health institutions to offer moral care for the “insane poor”.

Using a penny farthing coin to emphasise the little money owned by paupers during the opening years of the asylum, Baron has drawn over 23.000 circles to highlight the obsessional traits latent in insanity.

The voyeuristic gaze often imposed onto those with mental health issues is consequently overturned as Amelia invites the audience to continue the installation, using their own coppers to bring the socially engaged performance into the present day.

All photography credits go to Bob Clayden.